Mexico is full of tiny places which have been designated "pueblos magicos", and Cuetzalan at the end of the road high in the Puebla Mountains is one such magic village - "The Place of the Quetzals". Like any village in Chiapas, this is authentic, traditional rural Mexico at its very best...
The town is a vibrant kaleidoscope full of market stalls, street food, artisan goods with women dressed in beautifully embroidered huipiles and men all in white with thin leather sandals.....
The architecture is also dominated by white colonial buildings - the cathedral, the clock tower, the bandstand, and the municipal palace in the zocalo, and narrow, winding cobbled alleyways with overhanging wooden eaves...
Traditional dancers perform the Dance of the Quetzals in the zocalo, and voladores (flyers) perform their ritual ceremony by climbing to the top of an extremely high pole and swirling gracefully to the ground attached only to a rope...
During Semana Santa (Easter) other ceremonies were also taking place. Here a group of men are working communally to renew the Easter decorations for the arch of the Cathedral. The decorations are made from a type of palm sewn into these circular medallions...
It is hard to believe that this place is only six hours from the seething metropolis of Mexico City. To get here take a direct bus either from Tapo bus station in DF (6 hours 258 pesos) or direct from Puebla ( 4 hours). It is certainly off the beaten track but well worth a visit...
In the meantime, check out other places around the world by clicking here for My World Tuesday. Enjoy!!
13 comments:
Another great fascinating post, Catherine! Marvelous photos! You really capture the feel of the area! Hope you have a great week!
Sylvia
lovely mosaics. how wonderful is mexico to a photographer or blogger.
Very interesting, it is hard for people to maintain a traditional culture in the world today. These folks seem to be making a good job of it.
aloha,
thanks for showing us a little bit about your corner of the world today....sounds like a little treasure with lots of charm and old world history, beautiful
Terrific shots and post.
Sydney - City and Suburbs
fascinatingly vibrant!
A wonderful part of the world you showed us. Fantastic photos.
How charming! Pubelos magicos describes these scenes perfectly.
Magic is right! Absolutely enchanting. I love how you've organized your gorgeous photos into colours/themes. Really fascinating. I'm beginning to understand why several of my friends return time and time again to visit Mexico.
Thanks for all your comments - and please come and visit Mexico - there are just so may magical places here...
Really interesting post, I like your take on the place. Glad you enjoyed the Margate pics too. Dreamland is no more, closed in 2007 but there are plans to open it as a "vintage" themepark, complete with classic rides from other places. Fingers crossed...
In the mean time: http://artofthecity.blogspot.com/2010/04/welcome-to-dreamland.html
excellent photos, really gives a great idea of the culture and personalities, great stuff!
SP - thanks so much for the special post in my honour!!
Johnny - so glad you enjoyed the place
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